Hurricane Milton leaves 2 million powerless in Florida
Hurricane Milton, which reached the western shores of Florida, has weakened and is currently at category one. A recording from Tampa Bay has surfaced online, showing how Milton rapidly sucked up the water. "The water is gone," we hear on the recording.
Hurricane Milton, which reached the western shores of Florida, has weakened and dropped from a category three hurricane to category one. The American National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported on Thursday that its maximum speed is currently 150 km/h.
Current location and effects
According to meteorologists, Milton is about 105 km southwest of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Over 2 million Americans are without power as a result of the hurricane's passage. On Wednesday, airlines cancelled about 1900 flights, and over 60% of gas stations in Tampa and St. Petersburg were out of fuel.
Effects of a category three hurricane
Milton was a category three hurricane that hit Florida on Wednesday evening Eastern Time. It brought winds exceeding 195 km/h, dangerous tornadoes, and the threat of flooding.
The water level in the Gulf of Mexico rose by over 2.5 metres near Sarasota.
Milton also "sucked" water from Tampa Bay. "The water is gone. It was sucked out by Milton," says Brian Entin, a national correspondent for NewsNation, on the recording.
Hurricane Milton drew its strength from the exceptionally warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It twice reached category five hurricane status, with maximum sustained wind speeds close to 330 km/h.
